Japan's imports rose 28% year-on-year to JPY 11,153.9 billion in August 2026, accelerating from a 27.9% increase in July and exceeding market expectations of 26.3%. The increase was the strongest since November 2022 and reflected solid domestic demand amid the government's late-2025 stimulus. Crude oil imports climbed 58.7% as Japan diversified its energy purchases away from the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions.